SMALL AIRCRAFT-TO-SATELLITE DATA LINK SUCCESSFULLY TESTED

Under contract to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Capstone Program Office in Anchorage, Alaska, General Dynamics Decision Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, successfully demonstrated a direct small aircraft-to-satellite navigation communications data link capability during a round trip test flight.

Using a University of Alaska Cessna 180, General Dynamics conducted its proof-of-concept demonstration using a Motorola hand held satellite telephone to transmit a live stream of aircraft position data, via the Iridium satellite system, to the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Anchorage. The test flight departed Merrill Field, proceeded along the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, past Pioneer Peak, and continued deep into the Knik Glacier valley.

This successful testing of the integration of the Capstone’s navigation and surveillance elements with the General Dynamics innovative satellite communications technique shows tremendous promise for enhanced navigation, safety, and security for Capstone equipped aircraft in Alaska, and realistic potential for many areas in the entire National Airspace System, said Ellis McElroy, FAA’s Capstone Business Manager.

We essentially were able to bring the benefits of satellite technology to smaller aircraft like those flown by pilots in Alaska, said Michel Gelinas, a program manager with General Dynamics. Previously, these flight safety services were only available to large commercial and military aircraft.

Capstone is the name given to an avionics suite installed in over 150 small aircraft that greatly enhances the pilot’s situational awareness, navigation, and surveillance abilities. Capstone’s avionics suite includes a satellite Global Positioning System receiver, a data link transceiver, a multifunction display showing aircraft position, course, speed, altitude, projected flight path, weather, as well as aerial positions of other Capstone equipped aircraft. All the integrated flight information data are broadcast once per second to other nearby Capstone aircraft and to Ground Based Transceivers stations then, in turn, to the FAA Air Route Traffic Control Center that can track the aircraft in spite of high terrain blocking normal radar.

A significant element of this successful test is that Capstone equipped aircraft will be able to utilize a space-based backup data link system in extremely remote areas of Alaska where GBT stations may not be practical to install, said McElroy. Besides enhancing safety, the use of General Dynamics unique and innovative system could save thousands of dollars in the high cost of building, operating, and maintaining numerous GBTs otherwise required in extremely remote areas.

During the test flight, a computer at the ARTCC in Anchorage plotted two independent flight tracks of the aircraft’s position using both the Capstone GBTs and satellite telephone transmissions. Observing the tracks were representatives from the FAA, Alaska Department of Transportation, the Aircraft Owners’ and Pilots Association, Alaska Airmen’s Association, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force.

As expected, the two independent flight tracks correlated extremely well. When the Cessna passed Pioneer peak and lost sight of the Site Summit GBT, the Capstone ADS-B aircraft position reports ceased. As this occurred, the Iridium aircraft tracking messages continued to be received and displayed seamlessly, said Sky Tudor, FAA’s Capstone System Specialist. For more information, on the latest GPS News see aviation gps.

Author Notes:

Rod Muir contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.handheld-gps-reviews.com.  A wealth of information about Global Positioning Systems for commercial or personal use.